Photograph by Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr. · www.southernfocus.com
News and Events
2008 Alligator Season Proposed
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Photo by Alec Taylor
The 2008 Mississippi Alligator Hunting Season has been proposed to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; final approval is expected in June. The proposed hunting season would be the 4th year of regulated alligator hunting opportunities in Mississippi. Alligator hunting is allowed in 2 hunting zones, the Pearl River and Ross Barnett Reservoir just north of Jackson and the Pascagoula River in Jackson County. Interested hunters should submit an application to be eligible for a hunting permit; there is a fee to apply. As proposed, applications will be accepted only from July 1-15, and applications must be submitted through an electronic license terminal (anywhere that sells hunting/fishing licenses). A total of 240 applicants will be randomly selected by computer (120 permits for each zone). Selected applicants must attend a mandatory training course to be eligible to receive a permit.
Visit the MDWFP Alligator Webpage at http://mdwfp.com/Alligator for detailed information on applications and other requirements.
In 2007, alligator hunting opportunities in Mississippi included areas on the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers. This was the 3rd year for hunting opportunities on the upper Pearl River and the 1st year on the Pascagoula River. A total of 200 permits were available (Pearl River–120, Pascagoula River-80). A total of 184 eligible permittees completed the mandatory training course requirements. Participation among eligible permittees was high (94%). Overall, 73% of the permittees were successful. Harvest success per permittee/man-night was 32% for the entire season.
Ricky Flynt is the Alligator/Furbearer Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Bureau of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Proposed 2008 Alligator Hunting Season Dates:
Pearl River Zone: September 12-13 & 19-20 (Training Course – August 9)
Pascagoula River Zone: September 26-27 & October 3-4 (Training Course – August 16)